KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is expected to meet with the Kedah Regency Council today to discuss the replacement for embattled Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, two separate newspapers reported today.

Malay daily Berita Harian cited an unnamed source saying the meeting was scheduled to take place at 8.30am today at Istana Darulaman here, while the English-language paper The Star claimed “it is understood” Najib has received the go-ahead from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah yesterday though the actual outcome of the royal audience is unknown.

According to Berita Harian’s report, Kedah assemblymen who signed statutory declarations (SD) renouncing support for Mukhriz have been instructed not to exit the state in the next few days.

“We were told not to leave the area and stay on in the state for the next couple of days. For now, all assemblymen who have agreed to be a part of this issue are in Kedah, except for Ahmad Bashah,” an unnamed state lawmaker was quoted saying, with the latter referring to Kedah Umno deputy chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah who had headed to the federal capital for the Budget 2016 revision announcement yesterday.

But to date, Kedah State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Md Roza Shafian said he had not received any motion of no-confidence nor is he aware of any SDs by the assemblymen, The Star reported.

Crisis erupted in the Kedah Umno leadership last week when Ahmad Bashah led a delegation of 14 division chiefs, state and federal lawmakers to express their loss of confidence in Mukhriz.

Among the reasons given for their discontent was Mukhriz’s purported failure to govern the state, to unite the party and his lack of strategy to face the next general elections due in 2018.

Both Mukhriz and Ahmad Bashah have met with Najib separately since the leadership tussle exploded but the Umno president and prime minister has yet to announce any decision on the matter.

Mukhriz is expected to attend the Umno supreme council meeting here today.